Watch a short video about annual performance statements (APS). This video highlights the important elements that licence holders need to know when completing an APS.

The annual performance statement (APS) is an environmental performance report submitted by EPA licence holders at the end of each financial year. This statement is a declaration of compliance with each condition of the licence and is the main source of information for members of the public about licence holder compliance. 

In addition to APSs, EPA also receives reports for the national pollutant inventory (NPI) under the Waste Management Policy. Industrial facilities (EPA licenced and non-licensed) that emit substances which reach the NPI reporting thresholds are required to report. For more information visit the National Pollutant Inventory page.

APS forms are available to licence holders from 1 July each year. The final APS signed by the most senior Australian-based executive in the company must be submitted to EPA by 30 September. If the submission deadline falls on a weekend or on a public holiday, licence holders can submit by the next business day.

EPA assists licence holders in completing the APS throughout the submission period. This includes troubleshooting any IT related issues or advising what information is required to complete their APS.

If an APS is not submitted by the due date, EPA undertakes enforcement action in accordance with section 31D of the Environment Protection Act 1970.

Assessing APS compliance

Once submitted, EPA checks the APS to ensure it is complete before publishing it on the EPA website.

Any licence non-compliance during the APS reporting period must be declared in the APS for that financial year. In the APS, licence holders should then explain why this non-compliance occurred and what actions have since been taken to address the issue. This requirement is in addition to notifying EPA of the non-compliance at the time that it occurred.

EPA investigates declarations made in the APS through targeted audits. The purpose of these audits is to assess the accuracy of information provided by licence holders in the APS. Under section 31D of the Environment Protection Act 1970, licence holders are required to provide true and accurate information in the APS. Significant penalties exist for omitting, or providing false or misleading information in an APS.

The APS audit program targets sites statewide and across various scheduled categories. Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises) Regulations 2017 specifies different scheduled categories including:

• Chemical 
• Food processing
• Landfill
• Metallic
• Mining
• Non-metallic materials
• Prescribed industrial waste management
• Primary industry
• Sewage treatment
• Utilities

General enquiries                  1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC)

Email                                    aps@epa.vic.gov.au

Online                                   Enquiry/feedback